Illegal Bat Penalty
Also known as: illegal bat, illegal bat penalty, using an illegal bat, altered bat, corked bat, doctored bat, bat shaving, bat rolling baseball
Using an illegal bat makes the batter out. Under NFHS high school rules, the batter is out once he enters the box with one, and the head coach is restricted to the dugout on a first offense. Under MLB rules, a batter using an altered bat, such as a corked or grooved one, is out and ejected.
In high school, a bat is illegal if it was altered from the maker's design or does not meet the bat rules, such as a non-wood bat without the required mark. NFHS Rule 7-4-1a makes the batter out once he enters the box with it. If it is found after he bats, the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play, as long as it is caught before the next pitch. The head coach is restricted to the bench on the first offense and ejected on the second.
MLB Rule 6.03(a)(5) covers bats altered to add distance or cause an unusual reaction. It lists filled, flat-surfaced, nailed, hollowed and grooved bats, and bats coated with a substance like wax. The batter is out and ejected. Runners cannot advance because of the bat, and outs made on the play stand. Bringing such a bat into the box counts as using it.
Youth leagues set their own bat rules. Little League requires the USA Baseball mark on non-wood bats in its younger divisions. Rolling, shaving and heating a bat are all forms of alteration under NFHS Rule 1-3-5. They also void most warranties. Check the bat's stamp and your league's rules before the season.
Tips by skill level
Before the season, check that each bat shows the mark your league requires. Never alter a bat.
Coaches should check the whole team's bats before each game. NFHS rules require the head coach to verify that equipment is legal.
Example
In a high school game, an umpire notices a batter's bat lacks the required mark. The batter is called out, and the head coach must stay in the dugout for the rest of the game. The team checks every bat in the bag before the next game.
Why it matters
One illegal bat can cost an out and a coach. Checking bats before games is a simple way to avoid both.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any bat that fits the age group is legal
- Rolling or shaving a bat to make it hotter
- Borrowing a teammate's bat without checking its mark
- Thinking a sticker or decal makes a bat legal
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you use an illegal bat?
The batter is out. In high school, the head coach is also restricted to the dugout on a first offense and ejected on a second. In MLB, a batter using an altered bat is out and ejected.
Is bat rolling legal in high school?
No. Rolling changes a bat from the maker's design, so NFHS Rule 1-3-5 makes it illegal. It also voids most warranties.
Is a corked bat illegal?
Yes. MLB Rule 6.03(a)(5) lists filled and hollowed bats as illegal. A batter caught using one is out and ejected.
Sources
Related terms
- BBCOR BatBBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) is the performance standard that high school and college baseball require for non-wood bats. A legal bat carries a permanent 'BBCOR .50' mark and performs close to wood. Under NFHS high school rules it can weigh no more than 3 ounces less than its length (a drop -3). Its barrel can be no wider than 2 5/8 inches.
- USA Baseball Bat (USABat)A USA Baseball bat (USABat) carries the USA Baseball certification mark and is tested to a wood-like performance standard. Little League requires it for non-wood bats in its Minor League and Majors divisions. Other youth leagues such as Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken, PONY and AABC use it too. The standard has no drop-weight limit.
- USSSA Bat (1.15 BPF)A USSSA bat carries USSSA's 1.15 BPF certification mark on the taper. It is made for USSSA travel-ball baseball and is tested to a different standard from USA Baseball and BBCOR bats. USSSA bats are banned in Little League, and a USSSA-only bat is not legal in high school play.
- Composite vs. Alloy BatsComposite and alloy (aluminum) bats with the same USA Baseball or BBCOR stamp are tested to the same wood-like performance limit. As a result, neither material lets you hit the ball farther by rule. The real differences are feel, sound and care. Composites damp vibration more, so mis-hits often sting less. Many of them also perform a bit better after a break-in period. Hybrids join a composite handle to a metal barrel.
- Bat DropA bat's drop is its length in inches minus its weight in ounces. A 30-inch bat that weighs 20 ounces is a drop 10, written -10, and the bigger the number. The lighter the bat is for its length. Easton's guide says players under 11 usually use a -10 or lighter and older players can often move to a -8 or -5. High school and college non-wood bats meet the BBCOR standard, which means a -3.
Related guides & benchmarks
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